Elastic seal



Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN LETTS OLIVER, OF PIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 OLIVEB-SHERWOOD CO., A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA..

ELAs'rIc SEAL.

Application led .Tuly 1 2,

My invention is directed to the sealing'of a running joint between two relatively movable surfaces, whichsealing I accomplish by introducing a rubber or other `elast1c member between the said surfaces and fixed to one of the surfaces such that the other surface movesA with respect to and in contact or close proximity with the rubber. member.

My elastic seal is particularly adapted to sealing thc running joints in hydraulic apparatus. turbines, pumps and the like and 1s especially effective in sealing the running joints of sand pumps, slime, and chemical pumps and-other apparatus of like nature.

lBy referring to the accompanying drawings my invention will be made clear.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a portion of a turbine either for developing power or pumping.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail showing my elastic ring in a groove on the stationary member.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail showing the ring of Figure 2 deformed when pressure occurs in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 4 shows the elastic ring fixed to the movable member.

Figure 5 shows two elastic rings, one fixed in a groove in the -movable member and the other in a groove in the stationary member.

Throughout the figures-similar numerals refer to identical parts.

At 1 is shown a casing having a runner2 rotatably mounted on the shaft 3, while at 4, 5, 6, sealing rings are introduced. In the case of a centrifugal pump the water enters at 8 and is discharged from the runner into the periphery of the casing at 9, whereas 1n the case of turbine water wheel for developing power the water approaches the runner from the casing 9, thence passing through the runner is discharged at 8.

These sealing rings have heretofore been made of metal and when turned out of the shop a relatively close running joint is established between the rotating element and the stationary element by conventional packing means. However, in my invention the rings are made of rubber or other elastic material and are preferably dovetailed or otherwise rigidly engaged in the holding member.

At 10 in Fig. 2 is shown one of my elast-ic sealing rings engaged in the stationary casing 1. There being no pressure in the casing the ring 10 and the running surface 12 1921. serial No. 1s-1,093.

are very close together or even touching, but no pressure is exerted between the two; that 1s there is left a running joint between the ring 10 and the surface 12 as shown in Fig. 2. When pressure is introduced into the casing, whether it be due to centrifugal action of water flowing through the runner from 8 to 9 or whether it be pressure Water introduced at 9 to drive the runner as it flows towards 8, the said pressure may be represented by the arrow 13, which being transmittedl through the joint 14 exerts a side pressure as. indicated at 15, against my elastic ring 10. This will now bedeformed by the said pressure as shown in Fig. 3 and this deformation will cause a. pressure between the ring and the surface 12, entirely closing the running joint and maintaining only a lubricating film of water forced therethrough by the pressure 15. The elasticity of the ring 10 enables the joint to be maintained in a sealed condition even though irregularities in the surface itself or in the circle of rotation occur at 12.

Referring particularly to Figure 4 wherein my ring 16 is shown as fixed to the rotating deformed by this side Apressure substantially the same as in Figure 3, but in this casewc have the centrifugal force 18 due to the rotation of the runner effecting an additional pressure closure combining to eliminate the passageway 19 except for the lubricating film previously mentioned.V The deformation of the ring in Figure 4 will be that due to the result of the forces 15 and 18, and will be substantially the same as in Figure 3.

The use of rubber or other elastic material for sealing rings is not only adaptable to centrifugal pumps, but may be advantagcousl v used in other rotating machinery, such as rotary compressors. The ring may be spirally or otherwise grooved for lubrication.. the lubricant being either the fluid handled by the pump or may be supplied from an exterior source. Making the sealing form to any contour that might be used for kor :thc lili-ke *the coni ,a pump .genesi-ng zur mpller.- F'Eurt'hermorc, :un-extrc'ml: low-coeiieient-of frictioniex'ists :betweensunfacesmiovingin:contact'withrubber fzml in :my invention,l fthe "wetting of lthe surface roi thefzi-'libber :results lin la Aperfect, .-sealllbetweenltherunningsurfuees-las 'well tas a 'IOW-GOHieient of friction.

@It will be l:understood Tthat the rubber lor othcr'elastie Vring 'muy Ebe fixed to veither .the

v 10=1rotating or '-the #stationaryf'mcmber, =or both :as shown un :Figure5,-depend1ng uponx- Eisting @conditions HoWeVer, vit .is not -necesand I desire to :be understood as claiming :all

`:such variations.

I A'elziim': :1. ln dille --running oint lof .a liquid- `pump bination-'o'f concentrically supportedKmenibcrswith adjacent overlying -fcireularsunfees 1in `.relative motion when the :machine is =in-oper1-tion,:a-soft rubber ring on-one2cf Seidl-members .having a reely pro- .jectingma-rgin with -tlie -annular edge ftherecfgpresented .to `thercirczulm' .surface of ythe .ajacentinenber'Witlmuidcuuniiluredge free 'for lateral deflection, mieanssupportm bine i'he combination :of concentric l members m relitti-ve 1.1fota't10n'wlicn fthe -inaclune is 1n operation, n .so't mubber *ring @on fone of Athe @members "with fits annular cil-ge presentcd -elose to but :spaced "from fthe fother 'member `the like,2the combination df concentric memannuleedge close toibutno'tfin Contact with the fother member, l'szu 'ring -w'vhen -acted on fbyfluid pressure vrom 'the pump lbeing de- .formed fto contact "with .said 'other member. EIETTSODYER. 

